Printable regulations and entry form packet(PDF, 5MB)
Eligibility
ALL SCHOOL-AGE RESIDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY!
Mesa students in kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible for the visual arts contest.
Mesa students in 4th through 12th grade are eligible for the essay AND visual arts contest.
*All students are required to live in or attend a school within Mesa.
Submissions
Deadline: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Please email mail or drop off your entries along with the completed Entry Form. See the Entry Form for additional details.
Judging
The Mesa Historic Preservation Board will evaluate submissions based on the inclusion of historical information, storytelling skill, and artistic expression appropriate for the grade level(s) (K-3, 4-6, & 7-12). The Board will then select the top three winners in each age group and category, considering the overall effectiveness of the story, video, or visual arts project in conveying Mesa’s history. Only one winner will be selected for the group project.
Prizes
Awards will be given to students and teachers in each category based on grade (K-3, 4-6, & 7-12). Details in the Entry Form.
Contest Regulations
All entries must comply with the following contest rules:
- A completed submission form(PDF, 5MB) is required with all entries (see entry form at the end of this document).
- Each entry must reflect the student’s own research, writing and original thinking.
- Entries must be in the form of an essay or fictional story or visual arts (such as video, sketch, painting, model, etc.).
- One (1) entry may be submitted by each contestant/either individual or group.
- K-3rd grade students may only submit an art piece or group project.
- Students in 4th through 12th grade may submit either an essay or an art piece.
- All sources must be properly cited.
- Each entry should be no more than 750 words in length (essay), three minutes long (video), or no more than 24” x 36” in size (visual arts projects like painting, sketch, or base size for 3D model).
- Essays may be typed or neatly written.
- The title of the essay, but NOT the author’s name, MUST appear on the top of all pages of the essay. Each visual arts project MUST include a title using an index card, label or other clear identifier. Please include the title on the entry form.
- All entries will become property of the Mesa Historic Preservation Board. The Board may reprint the essays in publications, online, or use them at workshops. Appropriate citations will be given to the authors.
- Winning entries will be posted to the Historic Preservation Office website.
- Project photos/videos must be high-resolution.